Silicon Light Machines Corporation

Paul A Alioshin

Dave B Corbin

Richard John Aras

David T Amm

Akira Tomita

Douglas Webb

David A LeHoty

Robert W Corrigan

Bryan P Straker

Mark A Koenig

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method for bi-directional progressive scanning in a display system. The method includes receiving image data for an image to be displayed, forward scanning the image data in a first direction using a linear array of controllable light elements, and reverse scanning the image data in a second direction opposite to the first direction using the linear array. Another embodiment disclosed relates to an apparatus for bi-directional progressive scanning. The apparatus includes a linear array of controllable light elements, and a scanner driver that drives a scanner apparatus using a drive signal that is applied to drive both forward and reverse optical scanning of an image by the linear array.

Triangular bidirectional scan method for projection display

Optical devices comprising addressable pixels are tiled in an array configured for generating an image line. The addressable pixels are grouped into center pixels and addressable sub-pixels are grouped at the ends. The optical devices are tiled in staggered rows with addressable. sub-pixels and/or pixels overlapping along the array. To optimize the quality of the image, addressable sub-pixels are selectively operated and/or disabled to remove artifacts and maximize pixel density in the image line generated by the overlap regions. Arrays of optical devices, in accordance with the invention, are used generate image lines for display and print applications. The optical devices can be any light valve including MEM devices such as diffraction grating light valves and LCD devices.

Optical device arrays with optimized image resolution

A method and apparatus are used for converting a stream of incoming serial video data which is received frame by frame and is formatted with all data bits arriving together for each pixel into digital PWM video formatted as a sequence of like-weighted bits. Incoming video data is temporarily stored in a digital memory. A controller organized the data in the memory into a plurality of buffers, each buffer having only bits of like weight. The data is collected as groups within the buffers. The data is then coupled to a display device as the groups of like-weighted bits after a predetermined fraction of a frame time for producing the desired PWM signal. Since each bit of the incoming video data is stored for a fraction of a frame time, the present invention facilitates decimation of the total amount of buffer memory, compared to that of the prior art. A method of and apparatus are used for converting a stream of incoming serial PWM video data which is received frame by frame and is organized with all data for a single pixel transmitted concurrently into digital PWM video organized into groups of like-weighted bits. Once the stream of incoming serial PWM video data is received it is stored in a digital memory. A controller organized the data in the memory into a plurality of bit planes, each bit plane having only bits of like weight. The data is collected as groups within the bit planes. The data is coupled to a display device as groups of like-weighted bits. As groups of the shortest duration bit weight are formed, they are coupled to the display. This allows less than an entire frame of data to be stored.

Bandwidth and frame buffer size reduction in a digital

A display with orientation dependent rotatably image presents a properly oriented image in a first mounted fold-down position and a second up-right table-top position. The display folds up into a base unit when not being used for compact storage of the system. An orientation determining device is included for determining the current orientation of the display and properly orienting the image based on that current orientation. The orientation determining device is either a mechanically flipped switch, an automatic switch or an acceleration sensor. The display screen is preferably an LCD screen. Alternatively, the display screen is a light valve type display including a grating light valve system. The display is for use in a television system, computer system, video phone or browser. Infrared input devices are used to control the display and provide data to the computer system. In an alternate embodiment, a touch sensitive screen is also used as an input device.

Display/monitor with orientation dependent rotatable image

A time interleaved bit addressed weighted pulse width modulation (PWM) method and apparatus reduces the bandwidth requirement necessary for providing a plurality of data entries regarding multiple points of information. As is well known, a weighted PWM scheme modulates an output by utilizing a frame time that is divided into events of varying durations; most conventional schemes have each bit in the frame being half the duration of its predecessor. The modulated signal is activated during all, some or none of the events in the frame to develop a signal representing a particular parameter. This method and apparatus can be used in a display for selecting among varying levels of gray scale or from among multiple colors on a palette. In one application for a display, a register containing the same number of data pits as pixels in a row of the display is provided. The register is loaded with one bit per frame for each pixel in the entire row. The bandwidth is reduced because the bit for each of the pixels are not all for the same weight event. This allows a bit for a long duration event to be displayed in one pixel, while more than one bit for shorter duration events to be displayed in another pixel. This obviates the need to load one bit for each pixel in the row during the shortest event duration. The organization of the sequence of the events amongst the various rows can be pseudo-random to achieve reduced bandwidth. If the organization is pseudo-random the order can be pre-selected for an optimized bandwidth or organized into a predetermined format to achieve a pseudo-random effect.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Paul A Alioshin